Paris -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Reaction to the arrest of International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn ranged from concern to outrage to sadness Tuesday in France , where one politician said he was the victim of a `` lynching '' and others cautioned against what they see as a rush to judgment .

Underscoring the cultural differences between France and the United States , many French recoiled from images of Strauss-Kahn , who is charged in the alleged sexual assault of a New York hotel housekeeper , in handcuffs and in court -- photographs that would be prohibited under French law to protect the presumption of innocence .

Some French speculated about whether he was the target of a political setup , while others questioned what they see as a rush to judgment by U.S. authorities and the American media .

`` There 's a general feeling of a media , a judicial fury -- of a lynching , '' Jack Lang , France 's former minister of culture and education and a Socialist Party lawmaker , told Europe 1 radio .

Lang called the American justice system `` inhumane . '' `` For 48 hours now , only the side of the accusation has been heard ... and the versions given by police have been contradictory , '' he said . `` The refusal to allow him out on bail , when no violent crime has been committed -- even in America suspects are usually let go on bail if a violent crime has not been committed . ''

Strauss-Kahn 's defense attorneys have insisted he is innocent . Defense attorney Benjamin Brafman on Monday called the case `` very defensible . ''

`` The forensic evidence , we believe , will not be consistent with a forcible account , and we believe there is a very , very defensible case , and he should be entitled to bail , '' Brafman said during the hearing Monday .

A judge disagreed Monday , decreeing Strauss-Kahn a flight risk and denying him bail . He is currently housed in New York 's Rikers Island jail complex .

Strauss-Kahn 's arraignment was televised and clips played on various networks . `` Perp walks , '' in which defendants -- accompanied by police -- walk in front of photographers handcuffed are standard fare in America .

`` That is not the case in France , '' where cameras are not allowed in courtrooms , the head of the Socialist Party , Martine Aubry , told reporters Tuesday in Paris . A 2000 law prohibits the publication of photos of a defendant in handcuffs or in court . Aubry said many of her colleagues were `` shocked '' at what they saw .

`` Since yesterday we 've been overwhelmed by the images and also by the charges against Dominique Strauss-Kahn , '' she said . `` So we are here to say what we have always done unanimously for the last three days , to remind everyone first of all of the presumption of innocence . '' She took no questions from reporters .

`` I think that for Americans it 's the normal procedure , so there 's nothing shocking about these pictures , but in France it 's true that these pictures are very shocking for us , because in France we do n't have the right to show images of a man who is charged but not yet convicted , '' French resident Veritas Galabova , who works in finance , told CNN on Tuesday . '' ... It 's two cultural points which are different . ''

Benoit Hamon , spokesman for the Socialist Party , said , `` It 's very bizarre , strange for us to see one of our leaders between two American cops , like in a movie . ''

Some French also said they believe investigators moved too quickly to arrest Strauss-Kahn , who was pulled off a plane to Paris in police custody hours after the alleged incident took place in a $ 3,000-a-night suite at New York 's Sofitel hotel .

`` There is a real feeling that there 's a rush to justice here , '' said Nathan King , a correspondent for France 24 television network .

However , Linda Fairstein , former head of the Manhattan district attorney 's sex crimes unit , defended the investigators , saying if the special victims unit `` had probable cause ... they did the only thing that they could do , which was to stop this man before he left the country . ''

Strauss-Kahn was widely considered a leading contender to be put forth as the Socialist Party 's presidential candidate and face President Nicolas Sarkozy in next year 's election .

`` If you are pro-Sarkozy , you are happy , '' French teacher Paul Verite said Tuesday . `` If you 're not pro-Sarkozy , you have many worries , because it was clear that he was the one with the most chance of beating Sarkozy . ''

Verite said he believes the timing is suspect . `` It makes more sense that it was a setup than that he 's really guilty , '' he said . `` It could happen , but it 's quite strange for something like this to happen a year before the presidential election . ''

Explaining the impact of the news in France , King said , `` If John Edwards had won the nomination for the Democratic Party to run for president and then find out everything we know now and add a criminal element to it -- you get how big that is . ''

Edwards , a former U.S. senator from North Carolina , admitted in January 2010 that he had fathered a child with his mistress .

Many French also said they feel Strauss-Kahn has n't been given a chance to present his side of the story adequately , King said .

`` We have a tradition in France ... not to judge one way or the other until the real facts have been clearly established , '' Galabova said . `` For the moment , we have only heard the side of the accusation , and I 'm not saying that 's not true , but simply that we have n't heard the opposing side and the defense 's side , so I think we really have to wait for the real facts to understand what happened . ''

The Socialist Party 's Aubry told reporters , `` So far , we have only heard accusations from the prosecutor . That is the law . They are following it . There you go . It 's not our -LRB- system -RRB- . And we are waiting for that other voice , the one of Dominique Strauss-Kahn and his lawyers , which we will hear in the days to come . ''

The Socialist Party , meanwhile , insisted Tuesday it will not be deterred from its efforts to win back the presidency in 2012 . Presidential primaries will be held on schedule , said Hamon , the party spokesman .

France typically has a laissez-faire attitude toward extramarital affairs , even if they result in children . News like that involving Edwards or former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger , who acknowledged Tuesday he fathered a child a decade ago outside of his marriage , does n't cause much of a stir . When the scandal involving President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky broke during the 1990s , many French said it proved Clinton was strong and could lead the country , King said .

The late French President Francois Mitterrand fathered a child during a long-term affair . When asked about it by reporters , King said Tuesday , that Mitterrand responded , `` Yes , of course , but it 's my private life . '' `` The cultural difference is fascinating , '' King noted .

However , criminal charges in the Strauss-Kahn case may decrease the French tolerance , King said .

`` I think the French press knows the difference here , '' he said . `` They 've long put up with affairs and not reported them ... but this is criminal . ''

In addition , sympathy for Strauss-Kahn may be eroded , King said , by allegations from French politician Anne Mansouret , who said following Strauss-Kahn 's arrest that he attacked her daughter , French journalist Tristane Banon , in 2002 . Mansouret said she cautioned her daughter not to report the alleged incident to police out of concern it might adversely affect her career , as Banon was just starting out in journalism .

Banon 's attorney told CNN Monday they are considering filing a police complaint in light of the charges against Strauss-Kahn . Strauss-Kahn 's attorneys have not responded to CNN requests for comment on the 2002 allegations .

In arguing against allowing the IMF chief to go free on bond Monday , prosecutors said during his arraignment they believe Strauss-Kahn has engaged in `` similar acts '' at least once before .

CNN 's Ivan Watson , Saskya Vandoorne , Alanne Orjoux and Catherine Clifford contributed to this report .

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Many French find pictures of a handcuffed Dominique Strauss-Kahn disturbing

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One French politician compares the case to a `` lynching ''

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Some French says Strauss-Kahn should be able to present his defense sooner

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The Socialist Party pledges to forge ahead with presidential primaries for 2012